Edward McGill
Encyclopedia
Edward Robert McGill was a politician
in Manitoba
, Canada
. He was a Progressive Conservative
member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1969 to 1981, and was a cabinet minister in the government of Sterling Lyon
.
McGill was raised in Brandon, Manitoba
, and was educated at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario
. He served in the Royal Canadian Air Force
from 1940 to 1945, and later managed the Brandon Flying Club. He also served as a director of the Brandon General Hospital, and was a member of the Brandon Police Commission.
He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1969
, defeating New Democrat
James Skinner
by 504 votes. He was re-elected over New Democrat Henry Carroll
by just over 1,000 votes in the 1973 election
, and again in the 1977 election
.
The Progressive Conservatives formed government in 1977, and on October 24 of that year McGill was appointed Consumer, Corporate and Internal Services and Minister of Cooperative Development, with responsibility for the Manitoba Telephone System and Communications and the Manitoba Lotteries Act. After a reshuffling on October 20, 1978, he retained his portfolios and was given responsibility for the Manitoba Telephone System, Manitoba Forestry Resources Limited and the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation.
On November 15, 1979, McGill stepped down to the position of Minister without Portfolio
. He did not seek re-election in 1981, and has not sought a return to politics since that time.
In the legislature, his mild demeanour earned him the ironic nickname "Mad Dog McGill". Gary Doer
described him as "gentlemanly" following his death in 1996.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He was a Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and the lieutenant governor form the Legislature of Manitoba, the legislature of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly in provincial general elections, all in single-member constituencies with first-past-the-post...
from 1969 to 1981, and was a cabinet minister in the government of Sterling Lyon
Sterling Lyon
Sterling Rufus Lyon, PC, OC was a lawyer, cabinet minister, and the 17th Premier of Manitoba, Canada from 1977 to 1981. His government introduced several fiscally-conservative measures, and was sometimes seen as a local version of the government of Margaret Thatcher in the United Kingdom...
.
McGill was raised in Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon is the second largest city in Manitoba, Canada, and is located in the southwestern area of the province. Brandon is the largest city in the Westman region of Manitoba. The city is located along the Assiniboine River. Spruce Woods Provincial Park and CFB Shilo are a relatively short distance...
, and was educated at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
. He served in the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
from 1940 to 1945, and later managed the Brandon Flying Club. He also served as a director of the Brandon General Hospital, and was a member of the Brandon Police Commission.
He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1969
Manitoba general election, 1969
The Manitoba General Election of June 25, 1969 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was a watershed moment in the province's political history. The social-democratic New Democratic Party emerged for the first time as the largest party in...
, defeating New Democrat
New Democratic Party of Manitoba
The New Democratic Party of Manitoba is a social-democratic political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is the provincial wing of the federal New Democratic Party, and is a successor to the Manitoba Co-operative Commonwealth Federation...
James Skinner
James Skinner
James Skinner may refer to:*James Skinner , 19th century Anglo-Indian soldier, founder of cavalry regiments, Skinner's Horse and 3rd Skinner's Horse*James John Skinner , Irish-born Zambian and Malawian jurist...
by 504 votes. He was re-elected over New Democrat Henry Carroll
Henry Carroll
Henry Nelson Carroll was a lawyer and politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1981 to 1986, initially as a New Democrat but subsequently as an independent.Carroll was educated at the University of Manitoba, and practiced as a lawyer after...
by just over 1,000 votes in the 1973 election
Manitoba general election, 1973
The Manitoba General Election of June 28, 1973 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the social-democratic New Democratic Party, which took 31 of 57 seats...
, and again in the 1977 election
Manitoba general election, 1977
The Manitoba general election of October 11, 1977 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative Party, which took 33 seats out of 57...
.
The Progressive Conservatives formed government in 1977, and on October 24 of that year McGill was appointed Consumer, Corporate and Internal Services and Minister of Cooperative Development, with responsibility for the Manitoba Telephone System and Communications and the Manitoba Lotteries Act. After a reshuffling on October 20, 1978, he retained his portfolios and was given responsibility for the Manitoba Telephone System, Manitoba Forestry Resources Limited and the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation.
On November 15, 1979, McGill stepped down to the position of Minister without Portfolio
Minister without Portfolio
A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister that does not head a particular ministry...
. He did not seek re-election in 1981, and has not sought a return to politics since that time.
In the legislature, his mild demeanour earned him the ironic nickname "Mad Dog McGill". Gary Doer
Gary Doer
Gary Albert Doer, OM is a Canadian diplomat and politician from Manitoba, Canada. Since October 19, 2009, he has served as Canada's Ambassador to the United States...
described him as "gentlemanly" following his death in 1996.